Marine City trying again for downtown ice rink

Marine City is considering using parks and recreation millage funds to finance a small ice rink in the Nautical Mile Park in downtown Marine City. Attempts to do so through donations last year fell short, so the city may take it on itself.(Photo: Brian M. Wells/Times Herald)Buy Photo

The downtown ice rink idea didn’t pan out for Marine City in 2016, but officials are considering another go to give visitors another feature to enjoy close to the waterfront.

“This was something that was discussed last year at this time. Someone in the community was going to work on getting grant funding or donations to put together a skating rink,” said City Manager Elaine Leven. “(But this time) we decided to move forward.”

Marine City commissioners had approved a plan idea to put a rink in Nautical Park last year, and may do so again at their next meeting in December. The issued was brought up at the meeting Nov. 16 but was tabled after commissioners couldn't agree to waive competitive bidding.

The rink would be 40 feet by 80 and lined with plastic. The $4,800 cost would come from the city’s share of the county parks tax. The expenditure was budgeted for the current fiscal year.

It would be a second rink in Marine City. Another is at the park on King Road north of Chartier.

Leven, who’s been city manager a little more than two years, said the King Road rink isn’t always set up because of the weather.

If it gets cold enough, she said the Nautical Park rink would cater to a different kind of user.

“There was a particular interest in having one downtown because there’s so much going on downtown. It’d add to the excitement. Obviously, it’d be a bit smaller,” Leven said. “King Road is big enough for playing hockey on. Downtown, more so just for kids to skate around on.”

Resident Jamie Becker said she thought it was a great idea. In a message, she said, “We have plenty of restaurants, bars, and theaters but not enough recreational activities.”

Commissioner Lisa Hendrick, who’d voted against waiving the bid requirement last week, said she had several concerns. Public Works Director Mike Itrich hadn’t been present at the meeting to answer questions, and Hendrick wasn’t sure about some of the details.

On Friday, she said she preferred it to be at 300 Broadway, the property of the old City Hall — and a few others agreed. She also cited concerns with parking issues.

The Marine City Commission next meets at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at the fire hall, 200 S. Parker St. Agendas are posted at http://cityofmarinecity.org.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.